The most-photographed wild mammal on the island. A big, rangy hare with enormous black-tipped ears
about 125 mm long — close to the length of its own hind foot — a black stripe down the top of the
tail and onto the rump, and a weight of roughly 1.5 to 4 kg (Texas Tech NSRL, Mammals of Texas
online edition). Statewide in Texas apart from the Big Thicket, and at home in exactly the sparse,
hot, low vegetation the island offers.
Jackrabbits do not dig burrows. They spend the day pressed into a shallow scrape, called a form,
under a saltbush or a grass clump, and feed from last light through the night. On South Padre they
are easiest to find at dusk on the mown verges of Padre Boulevard and along the dune walkovers,
where irrigated green growth meets open sightlines. Breeding runs year-round in Texas, two to six
litters. Everything here that eats meat eats jackrabbits — NSRL's predator list runs to coyotes,
bobcats, badgers, weasels, foxes and large raptors, of which the first and the last are the ones
that matter on this island.
Observe responsibly
Wildlife, tides and access conditions change. Keep a respectful distance, do not feed wildlife, stay out of dunes and marked nesting areas, and use current official rules before fishing or handling any catch.